Mini Mag Lights- anybody own one that actually works?

elkins45

elkins45

Joined
Jun 17, 2006
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The flashlight thread made me think about the several mini MagLights I have owned over the years, especially the LED model I bought just a couple of years ago. It has already come down with the 'mag light disease' of having to be repeatedly smacked against my leg or palm in order to get it to stay on for more that 10 seconds while I'm walking.

My big D cell MagLight from the 1980s is still going strong, as are all the others I know of. It's just the minis that seem to have this problem. Do I just have bad luck or does everyones mini MagLight stop working?
 
I haven't got one handy but if you unscrew the tailcap, you should have a little spring attached that pushes the batteries forward. Tug on that spring a bit and see if the light doesn't work more reliably afterwards.
 
About four to five years ago I got the smallest maglite for keychain. It didn't survive a year. Eversince I haven't gotten another, changed to few ledlensers and they have worked fantasticly.
 
I use two for work I send them in when they get weird. Try using an eraser on the bottom (handle) contact.
 
A.L. said:
About four to five years ago I got the smallest maglite for keychain. It didn't survive a year. Eversince I haven't gotten another, changed to few ledlensers and they have worked fantasticly.
Click to expand...

I found when I tried that, that the light would also come unscrewed in your pocket.
 
I have had one for over 4 years now. It has a Nite-Ize 3 led conversion. Never had a problem with it. Granted it doesn't get much use anymore. I used to use it quite a bit for work until I went with something brighter. Nothing to rough and tumble though.
 
I have a couple of AA lights,one is converted to led,both work fine,I also have a AAA light on a keychain that works ok,but the batteries are usually dead when I do need it.
 
I had one that worked fine. I "upgraded" to the Nite Ize drop in LED and it never worked again.
 
I've had a couple of the little Solitare AAA mini-Mag-Lites, and they all suck. I have a Fenix AAA E01 and it doesn't suck.
 
don't have an actual mini-maglight...got a couple chinese knock off though. I do have a maglite solitaire. I bought it to EDC. then i found out how bad it is as far as brightness. Plan on buying an LED upgrade for it, but haven't done so yet.
 
I work as a mechanic by trade. Maglite used to be the flashlight of choice; but over the years I have seen it fall away as an inferior product for the reasons you named. Superior at its time, there have been a lot of improvements in tech which led me to replace it. I will swear by my Coast T7 which I have had for about 6 years and I use it every day. I had it replaced once because being a mechanic, the dirt/oil finally got to the switch and the oil made the plastic brittle and broke. I try to be more careful, and the switch was redesigned, so I haven't had that problem since. As glockman99 pointed out, Fenix also has a very good selection of lights the (the LD20) gets great reviews. Both are on par with your old Maglite, the fenix is more of a softer yellow and coast is a pure white light.

My coast has never shut off like you get with the maglite and the batteries literally last forever. Many times I have woken up the next day and found that I had accidentally left my flashlight on, and it still works for days. 3AAA battery lasts at least 24hours.
 
My mini-Mags work fine, but I use them only as maybe 3rd or 4th string players because I have so many other quality lights. However, the great thing about them is the unbeatable warranty. I just sent back a 2AA Mag that I had in high school to be replaced. Got a spankin' new one in the mail. If it was my only light, that would be a hassle, but who on this forum only has one flashlight? :cool:
 
I've got 3 or so AA Mini's and a few AAA Soli's.

One MM I set up with the Nite Ize 3 LED and the anti roll bezel holding a red filter. It stays with me in my pack. Another I set up with the Mag Xenon bulb. Not too much of an improvement but it's also in the pack.

The Soli's I usually give away as cheap gifts to non - flashlight appreciative friends.

As for them working like Esav said, prob spring related.
 
The problem with this one isn't the springs...that's the first thing I suspect when a MagLight stops working. The trouble is in the circuitry somewhere.

I know I don't have the receipt. Wonder if they will honor the warranty anyway?
 
I've come across 3 of them in my life, and none of them have been operational. 2 I found laying around other peoples' houses, and 1 was in the glovebox a car I recently bought. It may be that the people who tend to have these lights are unlikely to care about replacing batteries and bulbs, but it has struck me as odd... :confused:
 
If it isn't the tailcap spring try cleaning the contacts, especially the ones in the head with the led module/circuit. I'm not familiar with the newer LED models, but with the older ones a little bit of gunk often builds up on the electrical contacts. One of them may even be bent a little. If you having a contact cleaner like Deoxit try spraying some in there to see if it helps before trying to disassemble it.


elkins45 said:
The problem with this one isn't the springs...that's the first thing I suspect when a MagLight stops working. The trouble is in the circuitry somewhere.

I know I don't have the receipt. Wonder if they will honor the warranty anyway?
Click to expand...
 
I'd look at an Arc AAA or Photon for an awesome little keychain flashlight.
Or, for a bit more $, brightness, and modes, look at one of the smaller Fenix or 4 Sevens lights.
Lenny
 
elkins45 said:
The problem with this one isn't the springs...that's the first thing I suspect when a MagLight stops working. The trouble is in the circuitry somewhere.

I know I don't have the receipt. Wonder if they will honor the warranty anyway?
Click to expand...

AFAIK, it's lifetime...e-mail them to make sure.
 
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